Liver function under long-term treatment with neuroleptic drugs assessed by serum concentrations of bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase.

Abstract

Serum concentrations of total 3 alpha-hydroxy-bile acids, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase were measured in 35 psychotic patients who had been under treatment with neuroleptic drugs for more than 1 year. Serum concentrations of total bile acids were from 1.0 to 9.4 mumol/l (mean 2.9 mumol/l) in the patients and from 0.6 to 4.8 mumol/l (mean 2.2 mumol/l) in 20 healthy controls; the mean values were not significantly different. Serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase in patients and controls were not significantly different either. In conclusion, none of the patients had signs of manifest hepatobiliary dysfunction.